Satsop, W, Fork

FUN FACT: Two narrow and beautiful gorge sections make this a good low water run

SEASON: Through the winter and spring during moderately low water.

TAKEOUT: From Highway 101 just west of Montesano, take FR 22 approximately 29 miles north to FR 2260, also known as Simpson's 600 road. Follow FR 2260 to the east for 4.7 miles to a bridge over the West Fork Satsop. This is actually just south of the National Forest Boundary--hopefully the access gate will remain open. For current information on roads check the Olympic National Forest web site (check rec reports for Hood Canal District - South) or call (360) 877-5254.

PUT-IN: Follow FR 2260 back to FR 22 and head north for 5.0 miles, then turn east onto FR 23. Continue east for 1.7 miles (take the left fork about 1 mile along which will actually put you on FR 2372). You'll see an entrance to the Satsop Work Center (a complex of buildings) and there is a turn off for FR 640 (no sign) just past the work center entrance. Follow this road, which cuts back to the southwest for just over 0.1 mile to another entrance to the work center. There is a trail down to the river here (directly across the road from the driveway). It's not marked and not regularly maintained.

DESCRIPTION: The West Fork of the Satsop Gorge run has all the features of an Olympic Peninsula run: beautiful scenery in an incredible gorge, plenty of wood, and a couple heinous portages (it's a good idea to plan for a minimum of 5 hours for this run). Although many of the rapids individually rate class IV-, the limited access and necessity of catching quick eddies above portages makes this no place for anyone with less than solid IV+ creek boating skills.

The run starts out in a short class II section that leads into a narrow gorge. Most of the first gorge is IV- read and run ( video of first rapid, 2.3 MB), but a co

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